My 73-year old Dad, Don Lookabill, was one of the greatest dog lovers ever. Over the years, we had several dogs, but for the past 13 years, he had a pug named DJ – short for Dozer Jr. And DJ loved my Dad just as much – and could always be found right by his side. They spent their years together making each other happy as their health declined. Then this past summer, the time came that we had to have DJ put to sleep. I went with my father – and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do – to watch this strong, loving man lay his friend to rest. My Dad’s health had declined to such a point that he could barely hold DJ, so that was my job. We left the vet’s office with few words. A week or two later, he picked up DJ’s cremated remains and kept the box near him. Just a few weeks ago, my Dad and I started out on our annual trip to NC to get apples and visit family. As we drove, we talked about many things – one thing was how he missed DJ and still would pick a piece of food off of his plate to slip to him – only to remember he was gone. Later that evening, my father passed away. Needless to say, DJ was placed by my father’s side – together again forever.

Donna from MD

When I was growing up, my family & I had two dogs. The first dog, Scooter died when I was about 9 or 10 of cancer. For months he walked around with a growth hanging from his mouth. He could be very mean but also very sweet. I remember when I had the chicken pox in 2nd grade; he stayed by my side until I was able to go back to school. He would do that with anyone in our house who was sick. I was at school the day we had to put him to sleep. My mom took him to the vet to have him put to sleep and my grandfather had to pick him up because my mom was an emotional wreck. This was my parent’s first dog. They got about 6 months after they married in 1975. My grandfather picked Scooter up and buried him their back yard. Needless to say I cried when mom told me what happened.
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I am a disabled Police officer and am so lucky to have two wonderful Basset Hounds to love and cherish . I raised Lemon Drop ,my female from a puppy and she is the sweetest little girl ever. Bassets are like potato chips, you can’t have just one . I volunteer with Suncoast Basset Rescue in Florida and found my male , Buster on our web page,It was love at first site. I filed to adopt him right away and i have never been sorry. They give you unconditional love and only ask for you to care for and love them back. Too bad more people are not like that.God Bless you Mark for loving Sprite enough to put your own feelings aside and setting him free. You will see him again some day, He will be waiting for you at God’s feet.

Ken from Florida

I have adopted three animals-which I love very much-from the Animal Shelter (two cats-Gracie and Delta, and one dog-Trevor). Trevor happens to be my Doberman, and I have no idea what I will do when I no longer have him around.

Jeff and I had the opportunity to adopt Trevor when he was about 9 months old-on 25 April 2000. I remember how pitiful this dog looked. He was skin and bones, and by no means looked 9 months. He was scared of everything, and still is.

You see, Trevor was actually rescued by the people at the Ardmore Animal Shelter. Basically, he was Pit Bull bait, when he was rescued. The horrible people who had him would put him in a cage with a Pit, in order to train the Pit to fight. Trevor was severely beaten by his handlers due to a lack of “fight” and he was severely malnourished. Most of the times these bait dogs will be killed by the pit, or the handler. Fortunately Trevor was not.
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Our family raised dogs for the Seeing Eye growing up in Chester, New Jersey. It was a program run by the Seeing Eye through 4H. Families would receive a puppy and have the responsibility / privilege of raising these puppies for approximately 1 year. They became members of our family, it was always a difficult day when the woman from Seeing Eye came to pick-up “our” dog to take them to Seeing Eye training. The difficulty of that moment was made easier, by our option, to select to receive a new puppy at the same time they picked-up “our” dog.

We did that as a family for 7 years. After the dogs completed training, we were allowed to watch “our” dog go through their training run with one their trainers in Morristown prior to being assigned to their new owner. It was always amazing to see those puppies that we raised become the eyes for someone and change their lives.
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When it comes to pets nothing beats a cat that could be considered a little boy in a cats body. I never knew a cat that could be like Dude. Dude was a cat that my parents got from a family that could not keep him anymore because he would fight with their poodle.

Before Dude came to our house to live we already had 2 cats but we had put one to sleep when her liver was failing. I felt I could never accept the love of another pet be it a cat or dog or whatever again.

I arrived home from high school, my mother held in her arms my little buddy. A bundle of gray and white that looked at me with the look of love. I looked back at him and could not believe that my parents had gone and got something that I could not accept. Something that I felt was way to soon for me after my loss.

I told my parents I think it is to soon for another cat but they said give it time. I was very shaky and unsure. Later I went to bed, and was told that I had a little snuggler at my feet that I had no idea was even there.
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